Independent production company Roxwell Films has optioned the rights to the 1971 Ed Sanders biography The Family for a feature film adaptation, and who have they chosen to pen the script that will delve into the psyche of one of America’s most well-known psychopaths? Why, none other than American Psycho co-screenwriter Guinevere Turner.
Since adapting that popular Bret Easton Ellis novel back in 2000, Turner has primarily written short films along with several episodes of Showtime’s The L World. On returning to the world of murder and mayhem, Turner says “Its exciting to explore the psychology of young women who followed Manson.” She adds, “What makes a 19-year old in 1968 follow a man to the extreme of killing innocent people for him? We all know how it ends – people die and people go to jail – but how did it get to that?”
In what some may consider an unconventional choice, directing the film will be U2 and Madonna concert film director Jonas Akerlund. Akerlund says he considers the book (and subject) “a tale that must be told.” His lone feature directing credit is 2002’s drug odyssey Spun.
Charles Manson was given a life sentence in prison in 1971 for organizing the murders of seven people, among them pregnant actress Sharon Tate (director Roman Polanski’s late wife) and husband and wife supermarket magnates Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.
Leave a Comment